Aircraft with rotative wings



' June 23, 1931. J 5 LA c V 1,811,303

AIRCRAFT WITH ROTATIVE WINGS Filed Nov. 1. 1926 JUAN an LA cmnva, or IADRID,

Patented L June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPAIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '10

AUTOGIRO COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE AIRCRAFT WITH ROTATITTE WINGS Application filed November 1, 1926, Serial No. 145,654, and in Great Britain November 24, 1925.

aerodynamical incidence of the wings in different angular positions around the circle of rotation.

In revolving wing systems, the variation in pressure due to the difference in the speed of the advancing and the retreating wings relatively to the air stream produces a flapping or beating movement, the advancing wing rising by reason of the greater pres-' sure thereon whilst the retreating wing descends due to diminished pressure.

This results in the wings working at widely varying incidence in different angular positions and it is the primary object of the present invention to diminish this range,

This object is attained according to the resent invention by arranging the axes of 518 hinge joints of the wings in such a manner that a wing in rising is caused to decrease its positive incidence and in descending, to increase its incidence. In this manner an effect due to the arrangement of the hinge-joint is superimposedupon the normal effect of changing incidence due to the difference in pressure on the wings, resulting in diminishing the range of incidence throughout the revolution,

The present invention is carried into effect primarily by setting the axis of the hinge joint of each wing, viewed in plan, at an inclination to the axis of symmetry of the wing, such that the smaller angle with said axis of symmetry is forwardly disposed with regard to the direction of rotation of the system.

A similar proposal has already been made' although it suifices to produce a damping effect upon the range of incidence, is open to the objection that the wings in rising and falling change their-relative position in plan thereby making the system asymmetrical and setting up vibratory stresses in the wings.

Further according to the present inventially to a plane, which also contains or is parallel to the general axis of rotation of the system. The actual path traversed by the axis of symmetry of a wing is slightly arcuate but the horizont-aldeviation is so small as to be negligible.

A constructional form of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a plan view, and

Fig. 2 a view in elevation of a wing mounted in accordance with the invention.

Figs. 3 and 4 demonstrate graphically the effect of inclining the hinge-joints in accordance with the invention.

In Fig. 1 the arrow 1' indicates the sense of rotation, and in Fig. 2 the wing is receding. 1

A denotes a shaft constituting the general axis of rotation of the wing-system, and B a supporting member for the wings C. 1 D are bearings projecting from the member B and carrying the pin E which constitutes the axis of the hinge joint by which the wing,

is secured. Viewed in plan as in Fig. 1 the pin E- is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the wing C, instead of being set perpendicular thereto as heretofore, in such wise that the smaller angle 72. with said axis of symmetry is forwardly disposed with regard to the direction of rotation, indicated by the arrow 7'. The pin E is also inclined, viewed in elevation as in Fig. 2, to the general axis of rotation A. The amount of inclination obviously depends upon the range of incidence normally adoptedby the wings in rising and falling, which in turn is governed by the aerodynamical characteristics of the wings.

In the construction illustrated, the prolongation of the path of movement of the Wings longitudinal axis of symmetry does not coincide with the axis of the shaft A, but is substantially parallel thereto. It will be obvious however that by displacing the bearings D forwardly such coincidence may be obtained.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 42- The arrow 2, in the latter figure indicates the direction of translation and the arrow 1' the rotational sense of the system. Fig. 3 is a development of Fig. 4 in which angular positions are plotted against incidence.

The curves represent incidences of a section P of the wing at different angular positions.

The harmonic curve in represents the case of rigid rotatingwings, that is to say wings not hingedly jointed to the centre of rotation and for this reason the curve to is flatter than the curve a, also a harmonic curve, representing the case of wings hingedly jointed in the normal manner i. c. with the axes of the hinge joint perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the wing.

M and m mark respectively the highest and lowest positions relatively to the mean plane of rotation assumed by the wing in flight, and it is notable that these positions do not coincide with the angular positions of 90 and 270 respectively, the displacement being due to the inertia of the wing which carries the rising and descending motion past the line of translation in each case.

The curve 1 represents the effect due to the inclination of the hinge joint in accordance with the invention, and, since the maximum change of incidence is obtained at the highest and lowest position of the wing, the points of maximumdeviation are displaced relatively to the curve w.

The curve .2 therefore represents the geometrical sum of the curves :1; and 3 whence it will be seen that the range of incidence in a complete revolution is diminished by the inclination of the hinge joint and it will be readily appreciated that the general efliciency of the system is improved thereby.

lVhat I claim is 1. In an aircraft, a sustaining unit comprising a plurality of aerofoils positioned radially about'a common substantially vertical axis, and means for mounting the aerofoils including means for permitting them to rotate freely about their axis under the action of relative air flow and means for permitting them individually to assume during rotation a position of equilibrium under the lift forces and centrifugal forces of rotation set up by said airflow, said last means including a flexible joint for each aerofoil.

having an axis set at an angle oblique to the longitudinal axis of the aerofoil.

' 2. In an aircraft, a sustaining unit comprising a plurality of aerofoils positioned radially about acommon substantially vertical axis, and means for mounting the areofoils including means for permitting them to rotate freely about their axis under theaction of relative air flow and means for permitting them individually to assume during rotation a position of equilibrium under the lift forces and centrifugal forces of rotationset up by said airflow, said last means including a flexible joint for each aerofoil having an axis set at an angle oblique to a plane perpendicular to the common, axis of rotation of the aerofoils.

In an aircraft, a sustaining unit comprising a plurality of aerofoils positioned radially about a common substantially vertical axis, and means for mounting the aerofoils including means for permitting them to rotate freely about their axis under the action of relative air flow and means for permitting them individually to assume during rotation a position of equilibrium under the lift forces and centrifugal forces of rotati on set up by said airflow, said last means including a flexible joint for "each aerofoil having an axis set at an angle oblique both to the longitudinal axis of the aerofoil and to a plane perpendicular to the common axis of rotation of the aerofoils.

JUAN on LA OIERVA. 

